When it comes to playing Utah, Air Force thinks it has some unfinished business.

The Utes have a two-game win streak against the Falcons, including a three-overtime, 45-43 thriller two years ago at Falcon Stadium. Victories over Air Force the past two seasons helped propel Utah to Mountain West Conference championships.

Tonight on ESPN in Salt Lake City, the Utes (2-1, 0-1) and Falcons (2-1, 1-1) will be looking to avoid an early knockout in the conference race.

“Whether we’ll have enough firepower this year, I don’t know,” AFA coach Fisher DeBerry said. “But we’re going to try to give the nation a very positive image of the caliber of our football team.”

Both teams are coming off heartbreaking losses, Utah falling 23-20 in overtime at Texas Christian and Air Force dropping a 29-28 decision at home against Wyoming.

Giving the Falcons hope is that Utah continues to break in a new quarterback, sophomore Brian Johnson, as All-American Alex Smith’s replacement. Falcons quarterback Shaun Carney also is a sophomore, but he started eight games a year ago while Johnson saw little action.

“You have an experience factor,” DeBerry said. “Last year our quarterback was about where (Johnson) is this year. But in time, I believe he’ll be just as effective a player for what they do as Alex Smith was. He’s growing up and maturing.”

Carney and Johnson have the same task: Keep their teams in the conference race. A second MWC loss would all but eliminate the loser from title contention.

DeBerry hopes the series will revert to what it was before the Utes began their two-win run, when Air Force won three in a row. The conference schedule was changed this season when TCU joined the MWC, causing the Falcons to play in Salt Lake City for the second year in a row. But they can find comfort in that they played Utah, which won the Fiesta Bowl and finished 12-0, tough a year ago. They were the only team to lead the Utes last season.

The Falcons already have completed some unfinished business this season, ending San Diego State’s three-game win streak in that series with a 41-29 victory on Sept. 10.

“(Air Force) played us the closest (49-35) of anyone last year,” new Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “But I can’t remember an Air Force game that doesn’t stand out in my mind. Each game has had a life of its own.”

Whittingham was on the Utah coaching staff for 11 seasons before taking over as head coach when Urban Meyer left for Florida. DeBerry credits Utah for retaining Whittingham.

“That’s a tremendous advantage because Kyle is one of the best defensive coaches in the country,” DeBerry said. “They’re excited about football over there. We’re going into a hostile environment.”

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